Psalm 13:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

NIV: and my enemy will say, 'I have overcome him,' and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

NASB: And my enemy will say, 'I have overcome him,' And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.

CSB: My enemy will say, "I have triumphed over him," and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

NLT: Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, 'We have defeated him!' Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

KJV: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

NKJV: Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; Lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

David is experiencing a period of frustration, doubt, and uncertainty. This might have been part of his conflict with the murderous King Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2). David has candidly expressed his confusion and worries to God (Psalm 13:1–2), including a sincere plea for an answer (Psalm 13:3).

Here, David expresses concern that his enemy is celebrating his current fears. He is worried his foes might kill him; yet even before that, David fears his enemies will view his frustration as a form of defeat. If David wavered because of his enemy's prowess over him, others might assume he lacked faith in God's promises. After all, God had promised the kingdom to David (1 Samuel 16:13).

In Psalm 35:19–20 David prays: "Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit."

Fortunately, David knows that his limitations are not God's failures. Even as he expresses his struggles, David will affirm his trust in the Lord (Psalm 13:5–6). When troubles strike us as believers, we may think God has forsaken us; we may doubt God's promises. However, God's timing is not always the same as our timing. He keeps His Word, and His promises are iron clad. His seeming delays are for our good (Romans 8:18; 2 Peter 3:9). One readily obvious benefit of seeming delays is that we tend to pray more as we wait for the fulfillment of God's promises, thus drawing closer to God and often being more deeply transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Psalm 13:1–4 exposed David's sorrow and doubt. These are not uncommon emotions, and Scripture includes moments when believers cry out to God in their confusion. In this situation, David feels the Lord has forgotten him and turned His face away. He asks the Lord how long he must struggle, seemingly alone. He asks why he is suffering this danger, and this pressure, and when his enemy will finally be defeated. He is concerned that his enemy will claim the victory over him. Though David is confused and frustrated, he does not turn away from God, as the last verses show (Psalm 13:5–6).

Perhaps facing the overwhelming prospect of a murderous king (1 Samuel 19:1–2), David cries to God in frustration. In his circumstances, he feels abandoned and unloved. He begs God to consider his situation and answer him. David is not merely asking for help; he is asking for an explanation. Despite his confusion, David continues to trust in God and does so confidently. Because God has proven Himself already, David chooses faith in the Lord.

This psalm, like so many others, honestly expresses feelings of fear and frustration. This may have been composed during David's time hiding in the wilderness from King Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2). This is one of many passages where believers sincerely cry out to God with their confusion and pain, not understanding why God has chosen to allow events to occur (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4). As with those other Scriptures, this impassioned plea ends in an expression of trust and praise.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.